B is a
naturally-occurring element found in many types of rocks including shale. B
is also found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. It is considered an
essential nutrient and small amounts are necessary for good health.

What
are the uses of boron?

B is used in
making a wide variety of products including glass, ceramics, soaps, detergents,
fire retardants, fertilizers and pesticides. Borates are used in the
manufacture of adhesives, lubricants, brake fluids, metal working fluids, water
treatment chemicals and fuel additives. B is used in pharmaceuticals,
including multivitamins and nutritional supplements, cosmetics, and
toiletries.

Boric acid and
boron oxide are both used to reduce flammability of cellulose insulation,
cotton batting in mattresses, and wood composites.

Is
boron present in the environment?

Naturally-occurring
B is found in soils, sediments, water and air; the concentration depending
on local geologic formations. B does not breakdown in the environment.

B-containing
dust can be released into the air when coal and other fossil fuels are burned. B
compounds can also be released in the air during certain industrial and
manufacturing processes. It is also released during the application of
fertilizers and pesticides.

Surface water can
become contaminated with B from industrial wastewater and municipal sewage,
as well as from air deposition and soil runoff. Borates in detergents, soaps
and personal care products can also contribute to the presence of B in
water.

How
are people exposed to boron?

The primary way
people are exposed to B is by eating foods rich in the substance, or by
using B-containing dietary supplements. The average daily dietary intake
being 1.0 mg/d.

Exposure to B
can occur when ground water containing it is used for drinking and food
preparation. Swimming or bathing in water containing B may also result
in exposure to this element.

Exposure to B
can occur while working in factories where cosmetics, medicines, insecticides
and other B-containing consumer products are made.

How
does boron enter and leave the body?

B in food or
water readily enters the body through the gut, but can also enter the body
through the lungs. Small amounts can enter the body through broken skin. B distributes
widely throughout the body, with the possible exception of fat. Small amounts
of boron can accumulate in the bones.

Boron does not
breakdown. Most of it leaves the body in the urine within a few days.

How
harmful is exposure to boron?

Ingesting large
amounts of boron (30 grams boric acid) over short periods of time can harm the
stomach, intestines, liver, kidney and brain. Breathing large amounts of
airborne boron can result in lung and/or eye irritation.

Can
exposure to boron cause cancer?

The Department of
Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are all uncertain as to whether excess
B can cause cancer.

Is
there a medical test to show whether I’ve been exposed to boron?

There are tests
that measure the amount of B in blood or urine. Concentrations of B in
the general population range from 0.07 to 0.66 milligrams/100 milliliters
(mg/deciliter). Past exposures to B are difficult to detect since it is
rapidly removed from the body.

Normal blood
B levels for infants and children range from 0 to 1.25 micrograms per
milliliter (μg/mL).

What
is the treatment for boron poisoning?

Emergency medical
care should be sought in cases of suspected B poisoning. It is treated by
removing the person from the source of exposure and then with supportive medical
care in a hospital setting. No specific antidote exists for B poisoning.

Are
there recommendations to protect public health?

EPA limits exposure
to B in drinking water at concentrations of 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
or 4000 parts per billion (ppb) or 4000 micrograms per liter (μg/L) for one
day.0.9 mg/L or 900 ppb or 900 μg/L for
up to 10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child. Lifetime
exposure to 1.0 mg/L (1000 ppb) of B is not expected to cause any adverse
effects.

Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a legal limit of 15 milligrams per
cubic meter (mg/m3) boron oxide dust in air, averaged over an eight- hour work day
or 40 hour workweek. The World Health Organization has a provisional drinking
water guideline of 0.5 mg/L (500 μg/L) of B.

National
Academies of Science, Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board suggests
that Dietary Reference Intakes (estimated average daily requirement) for B
are 3 to 6 mg/d for ages 1 to 8 and 11 to 20 mg/d for ages 9 and above.

What
can I do to prevent exposure to boron?

Identify and
limit sources of exposures. While tap and
bottled water generally contain safe levels of B, well water may sometimes
be contaminated with enough B to create a health hazard. Well water should
be checked for B to ensure its concentration is below current guidelines. Reverse
osmosis filtration can be used to remove B from drinking water but it has
limited capabilities.

What should I do if I believe I am ill as a result of exposure to boron?

If you experience
symptoms that you think may be related to B exposure, you should consult
your health care provider for evaluation and possible treatment.

(2) U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology and Environmental
Medicine, ToxFAQsTM; Boron, November 2010.

(3) Progress in Food and Nutritional Science, The role of
boron in nutrition and metabolism, Naghii MR, Samman S. 1991 Oct; 17(4):
331-349.